Two of Europe's biggest brewers have posted contrasting results in the face of challenging trading conditions.
Dutch
brewer Heineken has increased its dividends on the back of net 2015
profits of €1.89bn (£1.47bn; $2.13bn), up 25% on the previous year.
Heineken said it would propose a dividend of €1.30 per share, above €1.10 paid last year.
Meanwhile, Danish brewer Carlsberg saw an annual loss of $261.8m (£181m), better than analysts had expected.
"Mixed year"
Carlsberg estimates it will generate "low-single-digit" organic sales growth in 2016 .
It
reported an unexpected net profit for the fourth quarter of 78m Danish
kroner (£8m) compared with a net profit of 168m Danish kroner in the
same period a year ago.
In November, the company announced a restructuring programme and job cuts.
It said its Asian operations were offsetting losses in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Its chief executive, Cees 't Hart, said in a statement: "2015 was a
mixed year for the Carlsberg Group. While our Asian business continues
to perform strongly, our business in Western and Eastern Europe had a
challenging year."
The company said it will unveil its new strategy for growth to investors on 16 March.
Volatile conditions
Heineken
said it expected to deliver further organic revenue and profit growth,
despite an increasingly challenging external environment.
Its
chief executive and chairman, Jean-Francois van Boxmeer, said: "Whilst
we expect further volatility in emerging markets and deflationary
pressures in 2016, we are confident that we will again deliver top and
bottom line growth, as well as margin expansion in line with our
guidance."
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